Out in the oceans far to the north of Gold Beach, a storm tore through the skies. Flashes of lightning and booms of thunder, harsh winds and pouring rain ripping through the air. This area was well known for its harsh eternal storm, but many of its mysteries drew attention from adventurers and treasure seekers. In the middle of it all, a familiar ship can be seen with a familiar crew on board. Aboard the Grand Crimson, everyone was scattered about due to the storm. Ropes and riggings have been snapping which Ethan, Diesel and Nina had their hands full with. Wendy was instructed to stay below deck due to the storm. Remmy had left Diesel's control console so he could go to the heart of the ship and check on the ships power generator, then to the starboard main rocket thruster. The Grand Crimson was in flight before they reached the storm and when landing to the ocean a stray bolt of lightning hit the thruster before it could retract. Remmy was worried of any damage done. Meanwhile at the helm, Yoshi was fighting with the wheel as it strained from the force of the ocean waves. At his side tightly tied to his belts was a few old looking rolled up papers. Up at the crow's nest, drenched and claws clinging to the sides of his perch as the ship rocked from the waves, Neko was watching through a telescope for any hazards or landmasses. Off in the distance, he spots light shining through the dark skies. It looked like sunlight at the edge of the storm. Looking closer, he saw an island. Picking up a megaphone he decided to keep up in the crow's nest for these situations, he made the call. "Landmass off port side!" He shouted through the megaphone. Barely managing to hear him over the storm, Yoshi turned the wheel with all his might to turn. The first great adventure for the Durem Pirates was just beginning.
The Gaian Seas.
ShadowStrike
~ Ch. 1: Village of the Stormy Isle
After battling through the storm, the Durem Pirates were glad to dock at the harbor of the island they found. After lowering the anchors, the crew turned to look at the storm. It was surrounding the island, but it seemed to keep a distance. "This must be the place..." Yoshi said clutching the papers that were by his side. "Storms Eye Isle." He finished as he untied the papers from his belt and opened them. "I am picking up strange energy signatures, although the storm is causing interference with my scanners." Diesel said as he looked around at the island. "Well then I guess we gotta find that treasure the old fashioned way right?" Neko said with a grin as he wrapped his arm over Diesel's shoulder. "Eh, I'll see if I can do anything about the scanners. Maybe I can get the short range scanners to work at least." Remmy said as he pulled up a screen with complex programs and coding. "Hey, what's the matter with an old fashioned map and compass?" Neko said as he knocked on the cockpit that was Diesel's head, much to the annoyance of the mech and his pilot. "How about the fact they are not always reliable, kind of like you with getting up in the morning." Remmy said with a smirk. Neko feigned a hurt expression. "Why you gotta criticize my cat-naps like that."
The group let out a few laughs before making their way to disembark. Ethan paused as he noticed someone not following. He turned to the bow of the ship and called. "Hey Wendy! Let's go, everyone's waiting!" There was no response. Moving shadows, black flames, a hidden temple. Making his way to the young mouse mage, Ethan tried to keep his worry down. Must stop them, stop the darkness, burning red eyes. "Wendy, are you all right?" The bunny asked as he lay his paw on her shoulder. Wendy jumped like she was jolted from a trance. "Wha- what?" She answered before clutching her head as a massive headache hit. She was breathing heavily and looking at her face, Ethan saw she had a distant look in her eyes and a faint fading glow. Now he was openly worried. These were the signs of someone having a vision. Visions were rare on their own... it was even rarer for them to mean anything good. "Wendy, I need you to calmly tell me what you saw." Ethan said trying to keep his voice steady. The last time a mage had a vision to his knowledge... was when the first mage village burned. Wendy shook her head. "I- I don't know, I can't remember." She said trying to recall the vision. It had all become a foggy haze, except for one thing. "A-all I can recall is fire." She said beginning to shake and quickly moved to hug her uncle. Fire had been a great fear of hers, ever since that day many years ago with the first mage village and the more recent events of the last. Doing his best to comfort the young mage, Ethan couldn't deny that he felt a strong energy in the air. Somewhere on this island, dark forces must be moving.
After calming Wendy down, Ethan and the young mage joined up with the others and made their way into the village. The village had a bit of an old rustic charm to it. Buildings made of a mix of wood and brick. Shops baring big wooden signs hanging in front. Yoshi stopped to admire the place. "Man, I love these types of places." He took in a deep breath. "The salted air of the nearby sea, the smell of fresh bread from an old style bakery, a hint of metal lingering from an old smithery and much more. You don't get that just anywhere and that in itself is a treasure worth seeking." He spoke with a wide smile. The others smiled as well with their captain's enthusiasm, although Remmy just shrugged. He was never one for old school and preferred the high tech. But even he had to admit the place had an appealing charm to it. Looking around though, something was getting his attention. "Hey guys... you ever get the feeling you're not welcome?" The zurg asked. "Hmm? What do you mean Remster?" Asked Neko. Remmy's eye twitched at the new nickname. "I swear you just try to find new ways to annoy me sometimes." Remmy muttered. "I believe he means all the glares we have been getting from the village residents." Diesel quietly spoke. As the group looked around, they started to notice the looks they were getting. "I say we should get indoors." Ethan suggested.
The group made their way into the nearest building, a pub called The Brewing Storm. Neko chuckled at the clever name. Within the pub there was hardly anyone around. There were a few folks drinking at a corner table and the pub's bartender arranging stuff on a shelf in the back. "You gonna ask the bartender what's up with the place?" Ethan whispered to Yoshi. "Yep. I've learned in my travels and treasure hunting that in most cases bartenders hear everything and know the most about the area." Yoshi quietly responded. "Well I can tell you that you're not wrong traveler." The bartender said with a booming laugh. The group jumped before making their way to the back as the bartender turned around. Yoshi, Neko and Nina gasped as they saw his face. "Wait aren't you the bartender from umm... that one island." Neko faltered as he tried to recall the islands name. "Libet Ventum. Translates to Echoing Winds in latin." Yoshi said. The bartender scratched his chin. "Hmm, that place rings a bell. I do believe that's where my little brother, er, technically twin brother, lives." He said with a grin. The three who met him thought back at how giant the guy was. 'Little brother?' They thought. Seeing the looks on the three's faces, the bartender let out another laugh. "Yeah, that boy had one hell of a growth spurt. But anyway, I take it you're all not here to talk bout my bro. So what can I do for you?"
Sitting at the bar, the group started talking with the bartender. Yoshi held tight to the rolled up papers tied to his belt. "We're looking for a treasure that's rumored to be one of the oldest relics on Gaia." He said. The bartender nodded and gave a light knowing glare. "There are many relics lost to time. But if your search led you here, then I can probably guess what you're lookin for." He spoke with a voice of warning. "Now I can tell you are some likeable folks unlike those... others. I say you better get sailing before you get mixed in and thought to be with them." The bartender continued. Ethan, picking up on what he said decided to chime in. "Others? Is someone else looking for the Key Infinitum?" He asked. The bartender looked confused for a second. "The key what?" He asked crossing his arms. Yoshi untied a paper and carefully unrolled it. The paper looked ancient. On the paper was a rough map of the island and in the corner was a diagram of a circular amulet of sorts. It bared four different runes and what looked like three gems. One gem looked like it was shaded in. "From what we could tell, there is a mountain temple that holds this amulet, or at least something that gets us closer to it." Yoshi said. Rubbing his chin, the bartender examined the map before tapping the amulet diagram. "It's not the amulet that rests in the temple, only a piece of it. You're looking for the Black Diamond of Umbrae Mundi... just like those other thugs" He said.
The group was silent as they took in this new info. This treasure hunt just got more complicated. "Well... didn't expect that." Yoshi said with a slump. He then straightened up as he thought of something. "Those others, I'm guessing they're the reason me and my friends have been getting glares from the townsfolk. Have they been causing trouble?" The pirate inquired. The bartender chuckled. "That puts it lightly but, yeah." He said. "They've been terrorizing the town, demanding for the gems location." The bartender clenched his teeth. "Those punks have even started to make threats, saying if we don't hand it over they'll burn the town and retrieve it from the ashes." He said with a slight growl to his voice. Wendy froze at what he said as she recalled the flames from her earlier vision. Yoshi slammed his hands on the table as he stood up. "Not if I have anything to say about it!" He shouted. "I've seen too many villages and towns being burned, I'm not about to stand by and let another one get burned as well!" He stated clenching his fists. The bartender stared at Yoshi for a minute before smirking. "You have quite a fiery spirit, can see it in your eyes." He said as he patted Yoshi's shoulder. "Listen, I hold high authority around this town. If you help with those punks who're causing trouble, I might be able to pull some strings and let you have that black diamond." He said to the group. Everyone nodded. "Great! Now how about some drinks, on the house!" He said with a grin.
After their talk with the bartender, who they learned was named Dennis, the group finished their drinks and left to explore the town. Wendy was a bit upset though. "How come all I got was water?" She pouted. Ethan ruffled her hair. "Because you're too young for any of the other drinks they had." He stated. He then turned to Yoshi. "Although I didn't expect you to order a glass of water as well." The bunny said. "What? Because I'm a pirate I must drink rum or ale or something like that?" Yoshi scoffed. "Alright, fair point." Ethan said raising his paws in a surrendering gesture. "What surprises me..." Neko started as he turned toward Diesel. "Is the fact that Diesel drank nearly a whole keg. I didn't even know he could drink, or that he had a mouth." The feline said. Remmy scratched the back of his head and looked aside. "Diesel has... many surprises." The zurg stated with a hint of unease. Neko was about to comment but a noise from up ahead caught the group's attention. It sounded like yelling. Shortly before the group reached the building the noise was coming from, someone was thrown out the door. "And I never want to see you or any of your shady group in my store again!" The supposed store owner shouted before slamming the door. "I'm guessing it's a safe bet to say this is one of those other people." Remmy said to the group. Everyone nodded... except Neko, who had a look of rising fear on his face. The one who was thrown out the door had gotten up and dusted himself off before seeing the group. He was a black bunny with an open black jacket, no shirt, black pants, shoes, scarf, and a cowboy hat. They also had pure white eyes. They eyed the group before seeing someone they recognized in it. "Oh what do we have here?" He asked with a wide grin. "Haven't seen you in ages Neko." The black bunny said. "For good reason, Cotton." Neko said with a glare. But fear was definitely there in his voice. The group looked from one to the other. This definitely seemed to be shaping up to be a rocky reunion of sorts.